Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College

Legally Blind Student Excels on GED

TechTalk, December 2004

William Arrington, legally blind since birth, registers for his spring curriculum courses in hopes of getting the education needed to start his own business. Arrington is a recent GED graduate at A-B Tech.

Everyone faces obstacles at one time or another. What they choose to do about them is where the differences lie. William Arrington, a single father taking care of his three children on a fixed income, chose to get his GED so he could start taking curriculum classes at A-B Tech in order to start his own construction business. His obstacle? He's legally blind.

Arrington grew up as the son of migrant farm workers, constantly moving. As he got into his high school years, he was faced with a decision. "I could stay in school or leave school to work for my father and stepmother and make money for my family and give my stepbrother and stepsister the opportunity to finish school." He chose the latter.

"My eyesight is the same with what I was born with. I've adjusted to it," Arrington said. "The doctors told my family to let me do what I wanted to do, that I knew my own limits." He hasn't let much of anything stand in his way. "The only thing that I have not been able to accomplish, that I set out to accomplish, was to get a driver's license. But with the way technology is, eventually it will get to where it can be done," he said. Until then, Arrington will continue to use public transportation to get him between his home in East Asheville and A-B Tech.

Arrington came to A-B Tech last year in hopes of obtaining his GED, but his studies were interrupted when he needed to take care of his oldest son. Members of the Continuing Education staff kept in touch with him by phone and mail encouraging him to come back and finish his GED. "These are some of the nicest people I have ever dealt with," Arrington said.

He came back in August of this year and within a few weeks he took all five tests and passed. "One of them I actually had a perfect score of 800," he said. Not only did he have a perfect grade in social studies, but he also scored a 760 in science and 730 in reading.

Exceptional scores for anyone, even more so for Arrington.

"In three of the reading components, he scored in the 99th percentile," said Lani Anderson, Chief GED Examiner. "That is just remarkable." Arrington said he was not so happy with his math and writing scores, but Anderson thought Arrington might be a little tough on himself. "I would have been happy with a 550 on math. It's got geometry and algebra," Anderson said. "His scores are well above average of what I see every day, which I think is pretty exciting," he said.

Arrington was able to use large prints tests after applying for accommodations. He finished it quickly, according to Anderson. "He's a smart man and he'll be O.K. He would have done well academically if had been able to go to high school, on to community college and on."

Arrington also gives credit to his children ages 11, 10 and 8, for his success. He said he developed his skills by reading to his kids and helping them with their homework. He may have to hold the books very close to his eyes, but he doesn't let that stop him from getting what he wants.

"Getting my GED is something I have wanted to do since 1995," Arrington said. He had been living in West Virginia, but was unable to attend the GED program there. When he moved to North Carolina, he was able to use the bus to get to A-B Tech. He had many reasons for wanting his GED, most of them focusing on his children. "I want to get away from having to take care of my family on a fixed income. The biggest thing that keeps me going is the possibility that things will open up for my children that I didn't have," he said. "I want to be in a position where they don't have to worry about where money is coming from for college."

Now that Arrington's certificate is at home and waiting for a frame, he is setting himself up for the next step. He is going to enroll in curriculum courses in the spring semester. His plans include construction management, computer aided drafting, cabinet making, business management and carpentry. "All these things are different things that I'm sure state and federal agencies will want a person to have to start their own business," Arrington said. "I know a lot about construction though actual work, but I need the certificates to say I went to school."

He wants to get Internet service in his home so he can be in touch with the Enka Site and the Small Business Center after he starts his curriculum track classes.

He works different jobs doing construction, working in homes, mowing and yard work. Most of his employment comes from people he knows or their friends. "With my eyesight the way it is, I have to push myself harder than everyone else doing the same thing to keep up," Arrington said.

"I hope people will read this and say 'If he can do this, so can I,'" Arrington said. "Anyone who can go and get a GED should go. Even if there is a setback, find a way to continue. It will open doors for a person that weren't there before."